Meet Thai Teaze | Drag Queen Entertainer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Thai Teaze and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Thai, why did you pursue a creative career?
It was really important to me to choose a career that fed my soul and spirit. Many creatives feel the pressure of getting a 9-5 job, as many artistic jobs don’t always pay well. It’s hard to break into the industry and make it big! Not being able to perform is tormenting for me though. You see someone like Cynthia Erivo getting her flowers right now and think, that would be so awesome. I always say, you only live once. I want to live life happy, doing what I want to do in life. Performing in drag makes me so happy. So, I pursue it fiercely. Being able to express all the crazy ideas and energy I have inside is the perfect release. Now, someone got to pay the bills and for the boba so I fiercely work my part time job in the morning. When night hits though, I’m able to choose my track, put the heels on, tuck it back, and perform my face off!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Thai Teaze is the CAFFEINATED energerized diva. My drag is all about having a camp fun time. I have a background in Musical Theatre, which I still do dabble in. Drag has really been what I have been chasing after though. I am able to mix in my dance/hip-hop backgrounnd with my theaterical training to combine dynamic performances that no other queen truly does. I have been working in drag for almost 5 years now, and it’s been a long journey. I grew up in Temecula, which is not a very LGBTQIA+ friendly space. There isn’t any drag spaces there, yet only gay clubs/bars. I started my first few years driving all over California, working for free anywhere I can to get my name out there. Got a sewing machine and youtube learned the house down on how to use this thing. Now I host and produce events all over California, including my new Drag Brunch in Temecula at the incredible Chubby Cheeks Meadery, and sew all my costumes. My career is truly proof that if you work hard and hustle, it pays off.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Okay, I am a boba fanatic so hop in we are getting boba. It’s a bit outside of Hollywood/L.A. area I feel, but Chicha San Chen is that tea spot. They have boba, refreshing quality tea, and an amazing cream mousse on top. We are also hitting bb.q chicken, my favorite korean fried chicken spot. Also, Jesse Boy, have THE best fried cauliflower I’ve ever tasted. I like chicken/protein, but I always choose the cauliflower over it. Afterwards, girl we are hitting the WEHO strip. Beaches Tropicana truly is that girl, but the entire block has great options for bar hopping! It’s so lively and you never know who you’ll see out.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I definitely want to thank all the queers who have had me perform in the shows and all the venues for having space for Drag Entertainment! As well as all of my fans, thank you to my glamourous drag daughter Hen Thai, my drag mother firecracker Athena Kills and my rocks queen Cucu Chanel and Isaiah Gomez! I’ve participated in this Tony Moore’s recent season of Project Drag, a FIERCE drag competition at Beaches Tropicana in WEHO, which has really put my talents on the map in LA.

Instagram: @thaiteazed

Image Credits
Chardé